Brightspace
Parent & Guardian
Window into the Class
With this resource parents and guardians can log into their secure account and see digital assignments their child needs to complete, graded digital assignments, shared portfolio items and any messages the class teachers post in their Activity Feed widget. This will allow families to keep informed about their child's progress to help them succeed academically.
If you are getting questions about this resource from families, you can direct them to the Brightspace Parent & Guardian page on the AACPS website for all current information.
🍎 Parent & Guardian Resources for Teachers
Get Parents Connected
One-page document (English & Spanish) to share with families.
Back to School or Sneak-a-Peek events
Family Events
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Class or School Newsletters
Download from your app store
Search school = Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Communicate with Parents
Email Parents/Guardians from the Classlist
Post in the Activity Feed
share an agenda or Google Calendar
Share Student Work
Portfolios can be a powerful tool to showcase student growth over time. The Brightspace Portfolio tool allows students and teachers to add a variety of artifacts that tie to learning goals. Students can add reflections on their work, and teachers can attach rubrics to provide feedback to students.
Brightspace Parent & Guardian Frequently Asked Questions
Q: A parent is trying to access Brightspace Parent & Guardian login information is wrong or the parent does not have an account. Where can the parent get this information?
A: You will log into Brightspace for Parent and Guardian using the same username and password that you use to access the AACPS PowerSchool Parent Portal. Visit https://www.aacps.org/Page/1325 for directions and resources or to set up a Parent Portal account. Contact your child’s school for further assistance.
Parents with a Student/Parent Portal account that used their AACPS network credentials will need to change their Parent Portal username and email address to a different login to access the Brightspace platform as a parent. Use these Directions to change your Parent Portal username.
Q: How do I know what parents can see in Brightspace Parent & Guardian?
A: See the What Families See slideshow above to understand what families will see.
Q: I posted something important for parents in the Announcement widget, but they said they didn’t see it. How can I share my Announcements with parents?
A: Parents do not see the Announcements in Brightspace Parent & Guardian. They can see posts made in the Activity Feed. Please note, parents cannot respond to posts in the Activity Feed. See the What Families See Slide deck for more on what families can see.
Q: What is the difference between due dates and start/end dates for what parents will see in the Work To-Do widget?
A: When an assignment has a due date, it will appear as Overdue if not turned in by that date. The student can continue to work on the assignment. When an assignment has a start date, the work will appear but students and parents will not have access until that date. When an assignment has an end date, it will no longer appear in the Work To-Do widget once the end date has passed. Students no longer have access to the assignment.
Q: Do all assignments in Brightspace show in the student's Work To-Do widget?
A: Only assignments with an established due date show in the Work To-Do widget. For Brightspace assignments, this means a due date is set when it is created. For Google Assignments or other third-party applications (Wixie, DE, Nearpod, Lumio, etc.) the due date must be added. Follow these directions to add a due date to a Google Assignment, or these directions to add a due date to the HTML document that includes your third-party assignment.
Q: How can I keep parents informed of the most important assignments?
A: Clearly label all graded assignments. Consider using emojis and all caps or bold font to indicate graded assignments. Use this on the assignments themselves and on any shared agenda. Example: ✅ GRADED - Assignment name.
Q: Parents are reporting that attachments in their child’s assignments will not open for them. What did I do wrong?
A: Internal and external tools often require accounts and permissions. Parents cannot access all tools/files as they are not logged in as an AACPS student/teacher.
Q: Parents have asked where they should look for their child’s grades. How can I help to ensure they are seeing the most accurate grade for their child?
A: Always direct parents to the PowerSchool Parent Portal for the most accurate grade for their child. Add the PowerSchool Student & Parent Link widget to your course landing pages (See step 6 of the Editing Course Landing Page directions). Periodically post the link to the PowerSchool Parent Portal in your Activity Feed to remind parents that this portal reflects the graded assignments that will determine the report card grade.
Q: Why don’t parents see artifacts or evidence in their child’s Portfolio widget?
A: Only materials placed in the Portfolio by a student and approved and shared by the teacher will show for parents in the Portfolio widget. For more on using the Portfolio, see the Brightspace Portfolio page.
Q: Can parents see the Brightspace calendar?
A: No. Please see options below.
Share the subscribe link to the Course Calendar. Place the link in the Activity Feed for parents to see. Directions
Create an agenda or place dates on a shared Google Calendar. Place the link in the Activity Feed for parents to see. For more on using a Google Calendar with parents, See the Google Calendar Heading on the Class Agendas, Checklists & Calendars page.
Q: Can parents message me through Brightspace for Parents?
A: No, not currently. Parents will need to email the teacher or call the school if they have questions. Please note, parents cannot respond to posts in the Activity Feed.
Q: Can I email parents through Brightspace?
A: Not currently. Use the teacher's AACPS Outlook account to email parents.
Q: Can I turn OFF Brightspace Parent & Guardian access to any or all courses?
A: No. All courses students are enrolled will be available in Brightspace Parent & Guardian.
If you have students in courses you are not actively using, consider reaching out parents to let them know or consider merging the course with a course you are actively using with the same group/section of students.
Q: Is there a Brightspace Parent & Guardian mobile app?
A: Yes. Brightspace Parent & Guardian is available for iOS® and Android™ using a supported device. Search Brightspace Parent & Guardian in your app store to download. View our Brightspace Parent & Guardian Mobile App Setup Instructions to connect to your account.
Note: Be sure to download Brightspace Parent & Guardian. The Brightspace Pulse and Brightspace Portfolio apps are for students and teachers.